The role of Charities Services

Charities Services, Ngā Ratonga Kaupapa Atawhai is part of the Department of Internal Affairs, and administers the Charities Act 2005. Our role is to promote public trust and confidence in the charitable sector and to encourage the effective use of charitable resources. We do this by registering and monitoring charities and processing Annual Returns. We also encourage good governance and management practices by providing educational support, advice and materials.

Charities Services maintains the Charities Register, which contains information about the more than 27,000 Registered Charities. The Charities Register is the public record of Registered Charities that operate under the rules of the Charities Act 2005.

Charities Services works closely with the Department of Internal Affairs’ nationwide team of Community Operations Advisors and staff from other government agencies, such as Inland Revenue and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. We also provide advice to Government and other stakeholders in the wider not-for-profit sector. In addition, we publish relevant data and research to help build understanding, trust and confidence in the charitable sector.

An independent Charities Registration Board meets regularly to apply the law and make decisions regarding the charitable status of organisations.